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The Assad government has insisted it is fighting a terrorist insurgency.

Russian news reports did not elaborate on the Russian troops' mission in Syria or if they are expected to leave the port.

Russian security expert Mark Galeotti told ABC News the presence of troops in Syria could be a 'pretty obvious' show of support to the regime.

President Assad is facing an uprising from the Free Syrian Army

'No one thinks of the Russians as anything but Assad's last friends,' said Galeotti, professor of global affairs at New York University.

The Iman replaced another Russian ship 'which had been sent to Syria for demonstrating (sic) the Russian presence in the turbulent region and possible evacuation of Russian citizens,' the Black Sea Fleet told Interfax.

RIA Novosti, a news outlet with strong ties to the Kremlin, trumpeted the news in a banner headline that appeared only on its Arabic language website.

The Russian embassy to the U.S. and to the U.N. had no comment, saying they have 'no particular information on' the arrival of a Russian anti-terrorism squad to Syria.

Moscow has long enjoyed a cozy relationship with the Assad regime, to which it sells billions of dollars of weapons.

In return Russia has maintained a Navy base at Tartus, which gives it access to the Mediterranean.

Last week Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia had no plans to send troops to Syria.

'As for the question whether I consider it necessary to confront the United States in Syria and ensure our military presence there… in order to take part in military actions -- no.

'I believe this would be against Russia's national interests,' Lavrov told lawmakers, according to RIA Novosti.

Earlier, The Daily Telegraph reported Asma al-Assad, the British-born wife of the Syrian president, will be added to a European Union sanctions blacklist later this week.

It comes after details of her online shopping sprees were revealed by leaked emails

The 36-year-old former investment banker and other relatives of regime members will join 114 Syrians – topped by her husband Bashar – and 38 organisations subject to freezes on their assets and bank accounts in EU member states.

European diplomats said the decision to add Mrs Assad to the list would be taken on Friday at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

'A number of family members will be added to the list,' a diplomatic source told the newspaper.